willpower

American  

[wil-poh-er] / ˈwɪlˌpoʊ ər /

Or will power

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

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willpower British  

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions

2. firmness of will

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Etymology

Origin of willpower

First recorded in 1870–75; will ² ( def. ) + power ( def. )

Explanation

Willpower is the ability to control or restrain yourself. If you bake brownies and can keep yourself from tasting them until after dinner, you can thank your willpower. A less descriptive — but simpler — way to say willpower is simply will. Whichever word you prefer, you can use it to describe someone's deliberate or purposeful control. In the case of willpower, the person is likely to be resisting a temptation or impulse. It takes willpower not to argue with someone whose opinions make you angry, and willpower to eat just one potato chip.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

willpower

And changing the behavior isn’t necessarily about exerting more willpower or coming up with a better system.

From Slate ● Sep. 23, 2026

Green Lanterns are intergalactic heroes who use a special ring to harness their imagination and willpower to manifest objects, manipulate energy and fly, as we see Jordan do, to Stewart’s chagrin.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

For decades, we’ve been told that weight loss is a matter of willpower: eat less, move more.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

It will be a test of willpower and resources.

From Salon ● Jul. 14, 2026

Now she seemed intent on playing the piano, dodging bill collectors, forcing us into college through sheer willpower, and riding her bicycle all over Queens.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline